Useful Web sites for single subject English/history

Hello, I'm so glad I found this forum. I'm trying to prepare for the English CSET and am feeling rather stressed. The posts here have been really useful in giving me suggestions for study materials, so thank you!

I'm wondering if anyone has a used set of the OCDE study guides for sale? I know Sem mentioned it but I'm too new to send a private message. Thanks!

 

Welcome to A to Z, SpellingBee. Invest a little time in posting here, and you'll be able to send private messages soon. Note, please, that posts in the Teacher Time Out forum aren't counted in the Posts total that you see at the upper right of one of your posts.

Which aspect(s) of CSET English have you most concerned?

 

Thanks TeacherGroupie. Well, all 4 sections concern me. I'm not the best standardized test taker and even though I was an English major in college, it's been a looooong time since I graduated. My mind is a bit rusty:huh: I think of most concern are the sections on linguistics (since I've never taken a linguistics class) and media/drama. I bought Teach Yourself Linguistics (as suggested by several here) and am going to try and work through that this week. Hoping that will make me feel better.

 

Have you considered a prep class or tutoring?

 

I did think about that. Unfortunately, I have to watch my pennies at the moment. I'm going to try and do the best I can on my own. If that doesn't work, I'll need to reconsider.

 

Elmer's materials plus the Aitchison book should get you fairly far, SpellingBee. If you've got a question on content as you study, feel free to post about it (you might not yet be authorized to launch a new thread, but you could piggyback onto an existing one).

 

Praxis II: 0042 (essays)

I have to retake this exam in June, as I failed on my first attempt, much to my surprise. I've always aced anything having to do with writing, but then, it has been a while since I graduated with my BA in English (1998). So, I guess I'm quite rusty. I wasn't so far from passing that it's discouraging, but I wasn't exactly close, either. Fortunately I aced the 0041 multiple choice test.

As I spend the coming weeks preparing, part of my study plan is to practice writing, but I can't seem to find many practice exams I haven't taken. The study guides I have are the ones put out by ETS and Cliff's Notes. Any other suggestions would be very appreciated!

The other part of my study plan is to review the literature that may be on the test (I'm reading brief synopses online, as I don't think I have time to reread all the actual works), but can't seem to find an adequate reading list. For my first test, the list of works I was given to choose from were totally different from anything suggested in either the ETS or the Cliff's Notes study guides. Fortunately, there were two works on the list that I was familiar with anyway, but that was due to luck, not preparation. I'd rather not rely on luck! So, any suggestions in that area would also be very helpful. Thanks!

:help:

 

In fact I think the lists are constructed so that someone with decent preparation is sure to be familiar with at least one.

 

I just registered for the all the English subtests to take in July. I haven't started studying and was wondering if someone could point me the right direction of where to begin! This forum is great but I am getting so nervous reading all the posts!

 

Where to begin varies from test taker to test taker. What's your background in English and how are you as a test taker?

 

Well it's been four years since I've been in college. I only took a couple of English courses in college since I was social science was a major. I did pretty well in the English courses I took, but I don't think I have a strong Lit background, certainly not strong in media/drama and grammar for sure needs brushing up on! I do read a lot though...not novels, more like the substantive Vanity Fair articles and Newsweek. I'm an ok test taker, not great but ok. I didn't study for the cbest and passed.

 

Okay, so you've got test taking chops; good. Classes may be offered through one or another of the local CSUs; they aren't cheap, though, and the schedules can be brutal.

 

Are you aware, mom of 2, that it's possible to receive private messages (PMs) on A to Z? Use the Forum Jump tool to go to the User Control Panel (it's the topmost link on the list) and change your settings. Most of us in these parts find PMs very useful.

 

ENGLISH CSET...

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY TIPS FOR ENGLISH SUBTEST 1? I HAVE PASSED 2 & 4 AND I AM WAITING FOR THE RESULTS FOR SUBTEST 3. I FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT ON SUBTEST 3 SO, HOPEFULLY I PASSED. ANYHOW, I REALLY NEED TO PASS THE CSET IN ORDER TO KEEP MY JOB FOR NEXT YEAR. ANY COMMENTS OR TIPS ON ENGLISH SUBTEST 1, WOULD BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED. WE COULD MUTUALLY HELP EACH OTHER OUT IF YOU LIKE. I COULD PROVIDE COMMENTS OR TIPS FOR THE OTHER SUBTESTS

THANKS,

ROSHINI

 

Welcome to A to Z, ROSHINI. Will you be a first-time taker of Subtest I?

 

No, I have taken subtest 1 twice.

 

Ah. You won't have your official score report yet from the July test date, but when it comes, take a look at side 2: there's information there that can help you focus your studying.

 

Thanks, I will check into that

 

I sympathize with people who throw their official score reports away in despair and disgust... but it's a mistake to do so.

 

Hello,

I am looking for 2009 help with the Single Subject English Test. I passed 108 but desperately need to pass the other 3 at the January test. Please help with how you went about studying for this test.

Thank you,

 

Welcome to A to Z, souljah00.

What are you seeing on side 2 of your score report?

 

Hi,
It has been approximately four years since I took the test the first time. After reading your past posts I started looking for my scores so I can look at the break down. I was so devastated after taking the first test I put off retaking it until now.

 

Hi,
It has been approximately four years since I took the test the first time. After reading your past posts I started looking for my scores so I can look at the break down. I was so devastated after taking the first test I put off retaking it until now.

 

That's a story I've heard before...

 

Sorry to bother with the same old issue. A friend told me that I should get a high school literature book and review authors, ideology and time periods, would you say the same? Any other tips would be helpful, I am going to put my nose to grind and hope to pass the January test. Thank you in advance for your help.

 

No, no, I didn't mean that you're a bother, I meant that one hears a lot from people who are that sandbagged by not having done better. Several hugs to you.

I'm not now recalling in which of the subtests you had difficulty. Refresh my memory, please?

And in roughly what part of the state are you located?

 

Hi,
I just meant I saw so many message where you had advised people on not throwing away the results. I didn't take offense. I am having difficulty with 105 and 106. I am located in the Central Valley. As a side note I have seen your posting in several different forums you wouldn't happen to familiar with dyscalculia would you? While focusing on my own tests I am trying to research learning disabilities in the area of math.

 

Familiar with dyscalculia? I'm not, but I might know some other people who can help.

It's silly that I don't know the subtests by their numerical designations, but I don't: can you remind me which topics those cover and whether they're multiple choice or constructed response?

 

Multiple Choice
105 - Literature and Textual Analysis Composition and Rhetoric
106 - Language, Linguistics, and Literacy

 

For 105, note that you need both literature and composition. A high school literature text could indeed be useful, as could a couple of good anthologies, but you'll almost certainly need something else for the composition - what would be best is a book that tells you not only how to write but why you should write (and think) that way, and I can't think of any good ones offhand. (This is in part a reflection of the hour; I'm a bit short on brain cells.) You could do worse than to check Answers.com for "rhetoric", however.

For 106, you need a decent quick overview of linguistics (which should also give a review of sentence structure). I wasn't impressed with the last edition of Freeman & Freeman's Essential Linguistics that I saw; there are at least half a dozen books that will serve better, ranging from Parker & Riley's Linguistics for Non-Linguists through Macaulay's beguiling The Social Art: Language and its uses down to Aitchison's cheap and quick but worthy Teach Yourself Linguistics. If your formal grammar is a bit sketchy, you might also want to add a grammar book. In addition, there's the matter of literacy. Cris Tovani has written a couple of fine books on how to teach reluctant middle-school students how to read, and those will touch on many issues you'll find relevant.

 

Thank you

 

Anyone have a recommendation for a textbook covering literature and composition?

 

Not for one textbook that does both, no, not really (though, hm, that's an interesting idea).

Are you looking for something to teach with or something to recommend as a study resource, or what?

 

Study resource... I'm currently certified in Business and Marketing Ed, but looking to teach English next year. Taking the Praxis II (0041) in January. I think this forum is really useful. I printed out the study guides Elmer posted in the other thread, but wanted to see if another book would be good in addition to brush up on test material as Lit and Comp make up 85% of the test. Any help or thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

If your background's marketing, chances are you're not in bad shape on persuasive techniques: your task will be to connect the concepts you know with the labels you don't know. Start with SparkCharts for composition and rhetoric and for literary terms - these are useful laminated cheat sheets carried by Barnes & Noble. You might also try going through textbooks for intro lit and intro comp courses at your local university (or second-hand bookstore): these can be helpful in your classroom later, too, and that's a perfectly reasonable criterion to keep in mind as you set about rummaging through the resources.

 

Is there anyone who can assist me in studying for English Subtest II ? Any studyguides or web sites would be greatly appreciated.

I have passed the other 3 exams as I am trying to add English as a suppliment to my History & PE credentials...Last time I took it my score was 215...Grammar seems to be the issue when reading the diagnostic.

 

215? Oh, joedags: you have my sympathy, though in fact a score so close does bode well for your eventual success.

In which of the following do you think you most need help?

a. Parts of speech and sentence combining
b. Properties of human language and history of English
c. Terminology in reading and the teaching of reading

 

A

 

There are grammar exercises at http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/grammar.htm, which is a Web site for English language learners (which means the explanations tend to be both thorough and clear).

http://www.usingenglish.com/ is another Web site for English language learners, which means its explanations of grammar are more than usually clear. Try the grammar glossary at http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary.html

http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/writcent/hypergrammar/ is another good choice.

To be honest, my very favorite grammar guide is Karen Elizabeth Gordon's inimitable The Transitive Vampire, updated as The Deluxe Transitive Grammar and subtitled "A handbook of grammar for the innocent, the eager, and the doomed". The examples are hilarious - funnier if one has a good grounding in 20th-century literature.

What makes grammar memorable is what makes anything else memorable: finding ways to bring the information home, so to speak. Start building your own repertoire of examples to support parts of speech. Look for songs (I retain a fondness for Grammar Rock) or perhaps even YouTube videos.

In addition, practice. Dissect some sentences. Kids' grammar workbooks may be helpful, or you can try your hand at it here.

 

Hello Everyone
I am looking for info for the Subtest IV (English 108). In November I took all 4 subtests and passed 3 of them, almost passed the 4th one. I actually only had 3 weeks to study. I used the study guides and practice tests from the cset-website and googled everything (literary definitions, etc). I don't know how much those helped, because when I took the test I felt like I was just guessing because most of the information didn't stick I guess I guessed right. However I didn't even study for the 4th subtests because there really wasn't any info out there, and it seemed easier.
But now I registered to take it in March, and I don't know where to start studying. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thank you
Marianna